Bridgefinders (The Echo Worlds Book 1)

by Joshua Cook

  “Put it back in your pocket, Cendan Key, I beg you,” Lachnin said between clenched teeth.

  The second his hand released the key, all the Elves relaxed as one. “That thing of your world does not agree with us. It may be better to keep it hidden while we are on our task. I do not know what it may attract.” Lachnin started his Halim moving again, and the other elves and Cendan’s Halim followed suit.

  Cendan nodded, but noted the reaction. He had only been holding it, not concentrating on it. What would happen if he really concentrated on the key? Could he have discovered a way to defend himself, perhaps? “King Lachnin, how far is it to Oakheart?”

  “Truthfully, we are not far. Once we cross our borders, we will be only two long rests from it. It will be trickier the closer we get to it, however. The Slyph goes to it often. I believe she enjoys taunting whatever is left of the human inside it.” The elf king said nothing else, and Cendan had no other questions for now, so they rode on in silence.

  Sometime later, though it was impossible to tell just how long, the elves stopped again. “Cendan Key, we are now at our borders. Beyond here, we will have to move quickly and quietly. So as a result, this will be a good place to stop and rest.”

  As they dismounted, Cendan found himself clenching his teeth in frustration. Without the elves’ help, he never would have gotten this far, but this delay seemed pointless to him. “King Lachnin, once we arrive there, at Oakheart, what happens then? Shouldn’t we hurry this along, in case the Slyph finds out I’m here?”

  The elven king paused and cast a sidelong glance at Cendan. “We won’t be getting that close—only you will be… I won’t risk the wrath of the Slyph by taking you all the way to the tree. I’ll take you within walking distance, but the rest is up to you.”

  Cendan groaned at this news. He understood it, but he wasn’t happy about it. “So you’re going to send me, alone, towards a place the Slyph frequently visits?”

  Lachnin nodded. “This is your quest, Cendan Key, not mine, not ours. You placed yourself on this path. Come, let us have some refreshment.”

  The elves laid out a smaller version of the meal he and the king had eaten in the village. This time, however, the strange hooded figures were not there, and all the elves ate, too.

  Eating with Elves was a strange experience for Cendan. For one, they didn’t talk. At all. Every single one of them ate and drank in total silence. And oddly enough, most of them ate with their eyes closed, as though they were in some kind of communion with the food. It was unsettling.

  “Lachnin, I don’t understand why you won’t take me closer. We made a bargain.” Cendan sipped the elven wine. “A bargain in which you get to visit our—my world again, remember?”

  The elf king gave him a long, flat stare. “Cendan Key. I made a bargain to take you to Oakheart, and to let you use our Bridge to get home afterwards. I did not make a bargain to protect you from the Slyph. That price is too high.”

  “Can you tell me what I might find at Oakhearts tree then? Anything may be useful.” Cendan stopped eating and pushed his food away.

  “Only this—the only creatures that approach the tree closely are the Slyph and Grellnot. You must be careful for both of them. I’ve heard rumors of tension between them, so if you’re very lucky, you won’t find them both there at the same time.” The elf king took a long sip from his cup before continuing. “And if you are captured, pray it is by the Slyph.”

  “Yes, I figured that Grellnot creature wasn’t something I wanted to be involved with,” Cendan answered. “What is that thing, anyway? I know what the other Finders say, but I’m curious as to what you think.”

  King Lachnin’s face contorted into a grimace, as did several other elves’ faces at the mention of Grellnot. “That creature is an abomination. It was created soon after Oakheart came here. It’s powerful, but destructive. It hates everything and everyone, including itself. It’s far more cunning than you may think, and while not smart in some areas, it’s highly clever in others.”

  “He tried to… take away my powers, but was unable to do so, because I’m a Maker. Have you heard of anything like that before?” Standing, Cendan stretched. He didn’t feel tired, just relaxed. By all rights he should be asleep—how long had he been awake for?

  The elf king said nothing at first, but cocked an eyebrow in response. “No. That is interesting. That doesn’t mean, however, that it won’t attack you in other ways. It even attacks elves, though not often. Grellnot has eaten more than one of my race before.”

  “Eaten? Actually eaten? And you let it do so?” Cendan was incredulous.

  “I don’t think you truly understand the position here, Cendan Key. We’re all at the mercy of the Slyph—at all times, in every way. Grellnot holds a place of high power in this world. It’s like a storm or an earthquake in your world. Grellnot just is.” The elf king remounted and motioned for Cendan to do the same. “However, based on what you have said, I believe it’s better for us to move faster. If you and Grellnot have some sort of connection, then it may be able to sense you.”

  Soon, they had all mounted and rode at a much quicker pace. Cendan remembered that they were now outside the lands of the elves, and he kept an eye out for other creatures.

  King Lachnin noticed the searching. “You may see some, but they won’t approach. They fear us. And you, they won’t sense, being this close to us.”

  Cendan nodded. In the distance, he saw flying objects, dipping and flying in lazy circles, though occasionally flying at high speeds in straight lines.

  “Pixies,” King Lachnin noted. “Harmless.”

  Soon, though, the lead elf held up his hand, and the band stopped. “What is the delay?” King Lachnin asked. The elf said nothing but pointed ahead and up a hill in the distance.

  Cendan followed his finger and saw what might have been long spikes crowning the hill. Some sort of creatures were milling around at the top. He couldn’t tell if they had seen him and the elves yet, but the elves made all their weapons at the ready.

  “Grem.” King Lachnin sounded annoyed. “They’re crosses between gremlins and other creatures they capture. They have not noticed us, but if they do, they will come in numbers.”

  With a wave, the Halim started forward again, faster this time. The Grem did not follow, to Cendan’s relief. As they rode on, King Lachnin pointed out other places where various creations of the Slyph dwelled. That rock crag led to a dwarven hold that forest in the distance was the home of the Firbolgs. More names came at Cendan—the Gorbin, Reynil, Caracks, and others names that Cendan couldn’t begin to pronounce.

  Finally, after a ride that seemed to have no end, Lachnin held up his hand for them to stop. “This is as far as we go, Cendan Key. Continue, on foot, straight ahead. This is close enough to Oakheart that you shouldn’t be spotted by anything, except of course the two main creatures you don’t want to get caught by.”

  Not knowing what to say, Cendan dismounted. This was it. Finding Oakheart was one thing, but he wasn’t sure how he was even going to even talk to him. Still, he had to try. Nodding to the elven king, he set off on foot, trying to stay low, though who knew if that would be helpful here. As he traveled, he noted the relative calm in the air. And oddly enough, it was accompanied by a slight comforting feeling. Realization hit him with a start—this felt a bit like the barrier room back in the lair. Finally, after an uneventful walk, he turned the corner around a large rock and saw it. The tree.

  It was a huge oak tree, reaching to the sky. Massive in size, its branches reached out and threw shade even this far. Cendan had seen pictures before of redwoods, and even huge sequoia trees—this one dwarfed them all.

  “Oakheart,” Cendan whispered. He had made it.

  Cendan turned around, but saw no sign of either the Slyph or Grellnot. He debated reaching out through his focus, but he wasn’t sure if that would draw attention or not. Too many branches, not enough information to pick which way to go. With a sigh, he moved closer to Oakhe
art. He had seen no sign of anything else nearby, and he couldn’t wait forever. He hoped the lack of other things was simply due to nothing wanting to get to close to Oakheart or the Slyph—or, of course, Grellnot. If his key had put Lachnin on edge, who knew how the other creatures around there felt around Oakheart?

  As he approached the trunk, the feeling of normalcy got stronger. He hadn’t noticed it until he got closer to Oakheart, but a tension in his body was slowly being released. It was as though being here made the oddness and the otherness of the Echo World disappear. Standing before the trunk of Oakheart, Cendan reached out and with a steadying breath, touched the bark.

  A feeling of hopelessness and age washed over him—there was anger there, too, and sadness, as well. But none of it made sense. The feelings were there, but nothing else that he could sense, just raw emotion in a swirled-up mess. Removing his hand, Cendan frowned. This was going to be harder than he’d hoped.

  It was time to try the focus. He didn’t know if it would draw attention or not, but he had to try.

  As his fingers touched the key, he immediately sensed a change in it. Before it had been cold, and the feeling of home was weak and listless. But here, near the tree, it was far warmer, and stronger. Oakheart was a link to his world, the main world, and so here the focus could draw more power. On top of it, Cendan knew this had been Oakheart’s focus as well, back when he’d been a living, breathing person.

  “Maybe that will help,” Cendan muttered. This time, he reached out and pressed the key and his hand to the trunk and reached out—

  Who is this? Boomed a voice in Cendan’s mind. What is this? Who are you?

  Oakheart? This is the Maker, Oakheart? Cendan thought back. In his mind he could see it—a whirl of green, blue, and red.

  That is the name the Slyph uses. My name is… A pause, and then a flash of sadness. I don’t remember my name. There was another pause. Who is this? What have you done?

  My name is Cendan Key. I’m… a Bridgefinder. A Maker, apparently. I came here to find you. I need your help. Cendan watched as the whirl in his mind that was Oakheart pulsed and grew, changing shape and color.

  A Bridgefinder? Here? How? Why? I do not understand. What could be so important that you would come here? Oakhearts voice grew stronger. My focus! You have my focus! It’s my focus now. I came here because, well… I’m a Maker. I have your notebooks and no way to decipher them. Do you know how long you’ve been here? Cendan paused. How could he break it to what was left of this man?

  Many years. I do not know. Someone should be able to decipher the journals. They are written in standard Bridgefinder code. Oakheart’s voice was now loud, but steady.

  I don’t know how to say this, but you’ve been here for fifteen hundred years. And no one knows now what the codes are. We are losing, Oakheart. I’m the first Maker since you were captured. There are only four of us left, four Bridgefinders. The EVA still works only in one regard, but can’t do anything other than focus the Bridges to one location. We have lost almost everything. I came here for knowledge. I came here to try to start to gain ground. Cendan held his breath. This was the moment of truth.

  So long? Only four left? What has happened? How did it come to this? Oakhearts voice paused. I must see this. Cendan, you must open your mind to me. I must try to read your memories.

  You can do that? Cendan was surprised.

  Of course. The magic of the Bridgefinders is varied and powerful. Have you lost this, too, over the years? Oakhearts voice was confused now, almost sad.

  Apparently so, Cendan replied. If you need to, read my memories. You will see what has become of us.

  Prepare yourself, Oakheart said. This may be stressful.

  Cendan felt his mind freeze over as though he were stuck in ice. He felt Oakheart’s presence in his mind, moving through anything dealing with the Bridgefinders with great speed. Waves of anger and sadness came off the presence, and then suddenly, with a shock, Cendan was free and alone in his own mind again.

  Fools! Damn fools and liars, all. Oakheart was angry. In my time, there was a small group of Bridgefinders who claimed we didn’t use magic, who only wanted to use our gifts to close the connections between the worlds. Somehow, they took over, it appears, and they have wrought ruin on our once great order.

  I will help you, Cendan Key, last of the Makers. I will transfer all the knowledge I can into your—our—focus… everything I can. But we must hurry. The longer you’re here, the higher the chances that either the Slyph or that bastard child of mine Grellnot will appear, Oakheart finished.

  Grellnot—how can I stop it? Cendan asked. It’s strong, very strong now.

  Grellnot was created by my magic and the Slyph’s—how, I do not know. You must understand that until you came here, I was losing myself to the tree. Once you leave, I will lose myself to the tree forever. Much of what has happened here is a fading fog of a dream. Your coming has given me some hope. I will help you, then, I will choose to pass on. The voice stilled.

  I understand. Do what you can to aid me, Cendan thought. I wish I could save you, really save you.

  He got no answer in response, just a feeling of calm and acceptance.

  A rush of electricity jolted the arm holding the key against Oakhearts trunk. He gasped out loud as the key seemed to writhe and move in his grasp. As quickly as it happened, it was over.

  It is done. Hold the key and concentrate on what you need to know, and if I knew it, you will have access to it. I have transferred all my knowledge into the focus as a sort of library, Oakheart said.

  Is there anything I can do for you? Leaving you this way, I don’t feel good about it, Cendan answered.

  No. Once you leave, I will no longer fight the pull of the tree. My magic will linger for a while, but the Slyph will no longer be able to taunt me. Oakheart paused, and a hint of amusement crept into his voice. This will not make her happy. A slight act of revenge, but one I can do.

  Cendan nodded. Thank you, Oakheart.

  Thank you, Cendan Key. For the first time in many years, I am myself. A temporary respite, but a welcome one. Go. Your bargain with the elves may be a foolish one, but it will get you home. And with that, the voice went silent.

  What do you mean foolish? Cendan asked, but no answer came. Oakheart? He asked again, but the voice and the presence were gone.

  Chapter Eleven

  Grellnot was angry. She had trapped it here, here in this world, when all that delicious human blood was not here. The sound of crunching bones was the only thing it could hear right now as Grellnot ate a goblin it had caught. Dry, broken scraps of bone littered the floor of the overhang. Grellnot did not have a home, but this was the closest it had ever had to one. Goblins weren’t tasty, but it was so hungry, a goblin would have to do.

  She blamed Grellnot for not catching that stupid human Finder. She hadn’t told Grellnot that the human was a Maker. How was Grellnot supposed to know that? Throwing the remains of the goblin against the back wall of the overhang, Grellnot groaned. The goblin had just made it hungrier.

  “Grellnot... Poor Grellnot. Trapped here by her. Only not tasty things to eat. Goblins, Fairies, Klackers. No tasty elves, no tasty humans, and no tasty Finders.” Grellnot stroked his treasures. The clinking sounds soothed him. All these shiny treasures—each one taken from a Finder, drained of blood and stripped of power. Grellnot remembered the rush of drawing that power out of a Finder. “And now Grellnot has taken so much power, she can’t hurt Grellnot!” Grellnot yelled out loud. “Yet Grellnot trapped still. How will Grellnot live?” Grellnot whined and shuffled around, kicking old bones and bits of rotting things out of its way.

  Suddenly, a buzzing sound filled its ears. Grellnot shook its head and stuck a clawed finger in each ear. “Grellnot not like noise!” Screaming, Grellnot stomped its feet. But the noise was still there. Grellnot froze. This was not a noise from outside, this was a noise from inside. Grellnot reached out, stretching his powers far to find the source of the buzzing
noise that Grellnot hated.

  There, at Oakhearts tree—something was different there. Grellnot leaped out of the overhang, heading towards Oakheart as fast as he could. Grellnot, hungry and angry, was going to find out what was making that noise.

  Cendan removed his hand and the key from Oakhearts trunk. The key felt no different, but Cendan had to test it, even though he knew that it was dangerous to do so here. Holding the key in his hand, he concentrated on it and thought about the cipher on the notebooks. He only remembered a tiny bit of what he’d seen in them, but he hoped it would work all the same.

  At first, there was nothing, and then with a burst that made him shudder, he knew. He knew all about the cipher—how it was used, why it was used, and most importantly, how to translate it. This would work! He could do what needed to be done and stop the Slyph in her tracks.

  Cendan turned away from the tree and froze. A fetid smell wafted to him from the figure leaning on a nearby rock. Grellnot.

  “Stupid human. Why are you here, Maker Finder? Grellnot not expecting this.” Grellnot watched Cendan carefully. “You came to do something with the tree. The Slyph’s tree. She would not like that.”

  “Stay back, Grellnot. You know you can’t steal my powers…” Cendan backed away slowly. He didn’t know what to do yet, but if he kept Grellnot talking, maybe he could think of something.

  “Stupid Maker Finder. Stupid stupid. Grellnot not even know you were here, you were very quiet. But then I heard you, I heard that.” Grellnot pointed one dirty clawed finger at the key in Cendan’s hand. “Grellnot heard it and came to see what it was. Grellnot could not believe the stupid human Maker Finder would be here.”

  “Here you are, and Grellnot not know what do to about it.” Grellnot bounced up and landed on a tree branch, looking down at Cendan. “You come here? To the Slyph’s world? Stupid. But if you come here, you must have a way back. How could you return to the stinking human world?”